Was it Senator Hillary Clinton or Karen Hughes? The guessing game continues on about exactly who Meryl Streep based her callous character, U.S. Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, on in “The Manchurian Candidate.” Hillary Clinton was initially believed to be the inspiration, but Hello Magazine reports former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was instead.

The up and coming Sunday’s NY Times reports Streep studied tapes to perfect the “mannerisms and attitudes” of former Bush adviser Karen Hughes, Elizabeth Dole, Ann Coulter, and former Reagan speech writer and Wall Street Journal columnist, Peggy Noonan.

Two time Oscar winner and thirteen time nominee, Meryl Streep has certainly accomplished her role as one of, if not the best actress in Hollywood. The American Film Institute recently presented her with the Lifetime Achievement award.

Streep won the Oscar for her roles in “Kramer vs. Kramer” in 1979 and “Sophie’s Choice” in 1982.

“The Manchurian Candidate,” is a remake of John Frankenheimer’s 1962 Vietnam thriller bearing the same title. The current movie is an update about two Gulf War soldiers. The movie opens nationwide July 30.